Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
Greens senator backs military aid to Ukraine, challenging party leader
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young supports military aid for Ukraine if it is needed to defend the country from Russia.
Party leader David Shoebridge opposes military assistance, though he says the Greens could support it if the UN Security Council approved it.
Russia has a veto on the council, making that approval unlikely.
Their disagreement has exposed a split within the Australian Greens and surprised Ukrainian-Australian community leaders and some party members.
The party supported a 2022 Senate motion that backed military assistance to Ukraine, but Shoebridge says its position can be changed by members.
Australia has provided more than $1.6 billion in military assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Shoebridge has been contacted for comment after Hanson-Young’s remarks, and the party’s position could change if its members amend the policy.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she supports military aid to Ukraine, breaking with party leader David Shoebridge.
Hanson-Young said military assistance may be needed to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s invasion.
Shoebridge opposes military aid unless it is backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution.
The disagreement has exposed a split within the Greens over the party’s position on Ukraine.
The Greens voted in favour of a 2022 Senate motion that referred to military assistance for Ukraine.
- Who
- Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young supports military aid to Ukraine, while party leader David Shoebridge opposes it unless authorised by a United Nations Security Council resolution.
- What
- Hanson-Young has publicly backed providing Ukraine with military aid, challenging Shoebridge’s position.
- When
- Hanson-Young’s comments were reported on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- Hanson-Young said military aid may be needed to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
Sarah Hanson-Young
David Shoebridge
Military aid
Sarah Hanson-Young
She supports providing military aid if Ukraine needs it to defend itself from Russia’s invasion.
David Shoebridge
He opposes military aid unless it is backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution.
Approach
Sarah Hanson-Young
She said Australia should provide humanitarian and diplomatic support, but not leave people to fend for themselves.
David Shoebridge
He described the Greens as a party of peace and non-violence and said it does not support military aid to Ukraine.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Greens voted for a Senate motion noting that Australia was providing military assistance to support Ukraine’s defence.
Hanson-Young lost the Greens leadership contest to Shoebridge.
Shoebridge met with Ukrainian-Australian community leaders to clarify the Greens’ position on military aid.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticised Shoebridge’s opposition to military aid in a Senate exchange.
Hanson-Young’s support for military aid was reported.
- Greens senator
- Sarah Hanson-Young
- Greens leader
- David Shoebridge
- Senate motion
- March 2022
- Shoebridge’s condition
- A United Nations Security Council resolution
- Australian military assistance to Ukraine
- Over $1.6 billion
What people are saying
If that’s the support that people need in order to defend themselves from the invasion of Russia, I think Australians need to support that
The Greens have been clear from day one that we’re a party of peace and non-violence, and we don’t support military aid to the Ukraine.
lining up with One Nation and President Putin
There’s nothing progressive about outsourcing our defence and foreign policy to Vladimir Putin.
Sources
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